Food, rides, contests, awards and a 5K race are among activities at 12th annual event at the McLean fire station

Children and adults alike have been chomping at the proverbial bit waiting for some truly seasonal weather for the month of May.

The organizers of McLean’s 12th annual “Happenin’ in the Hamlet” celebration invite one and all to come out to the McLean fire station this weekend to cast your blues aside and kick off your summer fun with a fabulous line-up of things to do for all ages.

The festivities will officially commence at 6 p.m. Thursday with food and a cake wheel by the McLean Firemen and their Auxiliary, and carnival rides by Wheelock Rides, with a wristband special for $15.

The fun will continue Friday with rides beginning at 6 p.m. with a $15 wristband special, and the McLean firemen’s famous fish fry, as well as a carnation sale by the “Calling All Teens” group. At 7 p.m., there will be a performance by “Logan & Mack”, followed by the “Small Town Shade Band” from 8 to 10 p.m.

Saturday will dawn bright and early at 9 a.m. with the “Ugliest and Cutest Dogs” contest. New last year, this contest was a big hit. A panel of judges will be awarding top prizes to both the cutest dog and the adorably ugliest dog, followed by “Race for the Rescues”, a 5K race to benefit the SPCA, at 10 a.m. Registration for the race opens at 9 a.m., and there is an entry fee of $5 per dog.

Craft vendors will be on hand beginning at noon, along with more food available via the Auxiliary women. Rides will open at noon and end at 11 p.m. All day, there will be a can and bottle drive for the SPCA, pet food collection; also for the SPCA, and a food drive for the Food Pantry, initiated by the Cub Scouts.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, the McLean Fire Dept. will sponsor a “duck race”, and at 3 p.m., you won’t want to miss “Billy Goat Bingo”, sponsored by McLean Community Church, or the meatball eating contest at 3:30 p.m.

There will be a Community Service Award presentation at 6 p.m. The Tompkins County Dairy Princess will be handing out free ice cream, followed by a pulled pork dinner. There will be entertainment by the “Johnny & Lonnie Band” from 7 to 10 p.m.

The Sons of the American Legion will salute Mother’s Day by holding a breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. Sunday at the Groton American Legion post on Main St.

The menu will consist of eggs cooked to order, pancakes, French toast, sausage, bacon, hash browns, toast, orange and apple juice, milk, and coffee and tea. Cost is $8 for adults and $6 for children age 6 to 10. Children 5 and under may eat for free.

Groton Alumni news

The Groton Alumni Association will hold a bake sale from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday at the First National Bank of Groton on Main St. Donations of baked goods from Groton alumni or anyone in the community are welcome, as well as any cash donations. Proceeds will help with printing and postage costs for the annual newsletter.

The next meeting of the GAA will be held at 7 p.m. May 10 in the Community Room at Center Village Court, 200 West South St. All alumni of Groton Central School are encouraged to become a part of this active group. Plans are currently underway for the annual reunion on August 6, but much more help is needed.

For more information, contact Betty Conger at 898-3990 or Jane Rutledge at 898-3983.

Kudos to GCC

Groton Community Church is celebrating its 50th anniversary of the merger of the Baptist, Congregational and Methodist congregations. They would like the community to watch for events celebrating this occasion in the near future.

Last week, the church delivered fourteen buckets containing cleaning supplies to be sent to disaster areas. School and hygiene kits were delivered to a collection site in Jacksonville.

GCC provided 7 school kits and 26 hygiene kits. Groton City Church helped with an additional 8 school and 5 hygiene kits, and the Groton Rotary Club joined the effort by donating 36 school kits. Church World Service will send these kits any place in the world where there is a need for them.

Things to do

Aside from all the festivities in McLean and the breakfast at the Legion, there are a number of things to do around town over the weekend and into next week.

The Groton Rod & Gun Club, 888 Elm St. Ext., will hold a work/cleanup day at 9 a.m. until the work is done on Saturday. This will involve general cleaning and prep for the summer months. There will be free food and beverages for all workers, so plan to come and bring a friend or two along.

The Groton Boy Scout Troop #77 is planning an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner at Casper’s Diner, 118 Main St. from 5 to 8 p.m. May 11. The menu will consist of spaghetti, salad, bread, beverages, and dessert. Cost is $10 per adult and $5 for children ages 4-12. Children age 3 and under may eat for free. The proceeds will help support a trip for the scouts to go to Philadelphia over Memorial Day weekend.

Summer camp scholarship drive

This summer marks the 11th year Groton Youth Services has offered a 6-week summer camp for Groton youth. While the $95 per week cost is a great bargain for many families, more than 50 percent have financial challenges which would prevent them from sending their children to camp without assistance from a community that cares the way ours does.

If you are willing and able to either sponsor a child to attend camp or make a contribution of any amount, your tax-deductible gift would be greatly appreciated, and just might make the difference for someone who might not otherwise be afforded this opportunity.

Groton Elementary School is in the process of preparing for incoming kindergarten students this fall. If your child was born on or before December 1, 2011, he or she is eligible to begin school in September.

If you plan to enroll your child for the fall, call the school at 898-5853. A kindergarten registration night is planned from 5 to 6:30 p.m. May 12.

Community Spirit Days

This weekend, the spotlight is on McLean’s Happenin’ in the Hamlet, but save the date for next week’s “Spring Community Spirit Days”, sponsored by the Groton Business Association.

Check back next week for a detailed agenda for the celebration, which will run May 12-14.